Это типа шутка?

the joke

Breakdown of Это типа шутка?

• это: it/this
• типа: like; kind of (informal)

Questions & Answers about Это типа шутка?

What does типа mean here?

Here типа is a colloquial particle, not a literal noun meaning type.

In this sentence, it adds a tone like:

• like
• sort of
• supposedly
• what, is this... ?

So Это типа шутка? is not just Is this a joke? It sounds more like:

• Is this supposed to be a joke?
• This is, like, a joke?
• What, is this some kind of joke?

It often shows skepticism, annoyance, or disbelief.

Why is there no word for is in the sentence?

Because Russian normally omits the present-tense form of быть (to be).

So:

• Это шутка? = Is this a joke?
• literally something like This a joke?

That is completely normal in Russian. You do not need a separate word for is in a present-tense sentence like this.

Why is it это, not эта, if шутка is feminine?